The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has detained a British national accused of spying for Russia, marking a significant unfolding in the espionage dimension of the war in Ukraine. Prosecutors in Kyiv say the man worked as a military instructor and then passed military information to Russian intelligence, potentially facing up to 12 years in prison.
According to the Ukrainian prosecutor’s office, the British man arrived in Ukraine in January 2024 and conducted training sessions for military personnel in the southern city of Mykolaiv, near the active front line. He later worked for Ukrainian border units. Prosecutors said that after leaving the instructor role in September 2024 and relocating to Odesa, he established contact with a Russian special services operative and agreed to supply military-related intelligence in exchange for money. Prosecutors allege that in May 2025 he transmitted coordinates of Ukrainian units, photographs of training areas, and identifying information about personnel. In one case he is accused of receiving US $6,000 (≈£5,148) for providing such data.
Espionage charges and possible terrorist preparation
The SBU further alleged that the man gathered information about military facilities in the Odesa region, sought access to military units and even discussed the “possibility of using explosive devices”. He is claimed to have advertised his readiness to spy on “various pro-Kremlin internet groups” and that Russian operatives provided instructions for constructing improvised explosive devices, as well as the location of a weapons cache from which he obtained a pistol and two loaded magazines.
Legal status and implications for UK-Ukraine-Russia dynamics
The man appeared in court this week and has been detained without bail while the pre-trial investigation continues. Prosecutors say he could face a sentence of up to 12 years. The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office has been approached for comment. This incident comes amid growing concerns over Russian espionage and sabotage activities across Europe, especially related to Ukraine, highlighting heightened counter-intelligence pressures for Kyiv and its Western partners.
Growing espionage concerns and Ukraine war context
Espionage and intelligence breaches have become an increasing part of the wider war landscape since the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Western countries including the UK have reported multiple arrests tied to alleged Russian spying or sabotage. The detainment of a British national accused of spying in Ukraine underscores the international reach of the conflict and Russia’s effort to gather intelligence beyond the battlefield.
What happens next
Ukrainian authorities will continue their investigation into the British man’s alleged espionage activities. His case may influence diplomatic and security cooperation between Ukraine and the UK, particularly in the realms of training foreign nationals and monitoring counter-intelligence risks. For the UK, it may trigger reviews of how British personnel operate in conflict zones and how they are monitored.
